Northeast bus seeker!

[awilder]

Hi there, I am a full time mom looking for a short bus to convert. We live in the Northeast, which I understand isn’t the best place to find a bus. Maybe I will end up going West and driving it back with our toddler, but, is there anywhere closer to find a good, rust free, pleasingly priced bus? Thank you in advance.

[o1marc]

http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f14/20...tml#post366403

[peteg59]

Welcome to the site Ma'am.
It will pay off if you find something as far away and south of the northeast as possible.
Extremely difficult to do with a toddler in tow.
Maybe you can have someone watch your child, and you go solo to check out/pick up your bus?

Unless you need to snag the first thing that comes along, you should research the different bus models, sizes, drivetrains available, then you can choose the right bus for you and your child.

You'll have to open up more about your mechanical abilities, approximate budget, your long term plans, etc., etc. in order to get the best advice from the many seasoned bus owners on the site.

Good luck, and with a bit more info, maybe we can help...

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by awilder

Hi there, I am a full time mom looking for a short bus to convert. We live in the Northeast, which I understand isn’t the best place to find a bus. Maybe I will end up going West and driving it back with our toddler, but, is there anywhere closer to find a good, rust free, pleasingly priced bus? Thank you in advance.

Whenever you're tempted to buy a NE bus because it's close by, check out my build thread. My bus came from Buffalo.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Whenever you're tempted to buy a NE bus because it's close by, check out my build thread. My bus came from Buffalo.

Your bus example is going to be epic here, can't say I've seen one worse and commend you for sticking with it. It's a perfect example of why not to buy a bus from NE. I was worried about this one from Ky., but absolutely no rust. I was worried when they put in the listing "Rust commensurate with age", which to me means "it's an 18 YO rust bucket from the rust belt". I was pleasantly surprised to see virtually no rust at all on it.

[awilder]

Thank you, all.
01marc, that is a good looking bus, where is it located?
Musigenesis, I am too frightened to look at your build thread! Rust is scary. Maybe in the light of day tomorrow.
Peteg59, I would love any help figuring out what we may need. To answer your questions, as for mechanical abilities, none right now. Meh, I know. But I am reading every post on this site and hope to learn what’s needed for basic repair work/maintenance. Not going to be fixing the bus myself at the moment, however.
Budget is about 14k for a bus and build and hopefully a little savings for repairs.
Our plan is to find a bus short enough to street park with relative ease in the city we live in and big enough to seat 5 and sleep at least 2. I have two older stepsons and my daughter so we certainly need seats for 5 but stepsons will not be in the bus enough to warrant the headache of city parking a bus longer than 23 feet. And when they are it will be summer, So, one bed and tents and hammocks when it’s all 5. I am thinking a pull out bed in the back that has three seat belts and a passenger chair up front. A sink, two burner, fridge/cooler. Little wood stove would be nice if it fit.
I want to start from scratch or close to scratch as opposed to buying a converted bus as in the future I want to build a house and this bus will be a first build project for me.
Maybe this will be a choice I’ll regret.
Andrew’s bus is lovely and about what I’m thinking, with the pull out bed in back:
http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f14/20...obo-29399.html

Would like to buy no later than late Spring of 2020.
That’s about all. Thank you for your time!

Ps, wonder if someone wants the job of picking up a bus and driving it back? Even, of finding the right bus in the first place?? Half kidding. This bit of settling on the right bus has me nervous! I guess that will pass as I learn more.
Thanks.

[john61ct]

Not just weather, what chemical mix is uded on the roads.

Never Connecticut

[awilder]

Originally Posted by john61ct

Not just weather, what chemical mix is uded on the roads.

Never Connecticut

Never Connecticut for anything, really...
I was kicked out of a boarding school I received a scholarship to in that fine state.
Although maybe you could find a nice used crew boat.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by john61ct

Not just weather, what chemical mix is uded on the roads.

Never Connecticut

I never put 2 and 2 together to realize the ct in your name was for Ct. Where are you in the state? My home is Sandy Hook.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by awilder

Never Connecticut for anything, really...
I was kicked out of a boarding school I received a scholarship to in that fine state.
Although maybe you could find a nice used crew boat.

My shorty is in my front yard in northern Georgia.
Connecticut is still a fine state and I miss living there, except this time of year.

[Brad_SwiftFur]

Originally Posted by awilder

Ps, wonder if someone wants the job of picking up a bus and driving it back?

Yes. Driving is my bread-and-butter profession.

[o1marc]

Sent you a PM.

[cadillackid]

Driving busses is my fun time... Id love to go for a bus ride